Conveyor for football tackling dummies

ABSTRACT

A device for conveying objects from one point to another, such as for conveying football practice dummies, may be yieldably suspended from a track or cable, and may yieldable, movable target, as the carriage carries the dummy longitudinally on the cables, one end of the cables may be selectively altered, as well as yieldably maintained at a preselected plane. A modification of the device providing means for transporting a carriage over an extended area, providing posts intermediate of the vertical adjustable post and the fixed post, having cable connectors permitting passage of the carriage on the cables over the post.

Brantley [151 3,637,210 Jan.25,1972

154] CONVEYOR FOR FOOTBALL TACKLING DUMMIES [72] Inventor: Ellard H.Brantley, 2301 Racine, Monroe,

[22] Filed: Feb. 6, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 9,170

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 837,480 12/1906 Lee ..212/752,466,954 4/1949 King ..273/55 Primary ExaminerRichard C. PinkhamAssistant ExaminerTheatrice Brown Attorney-Ranseler 0. Wyatt ABSTRACT Adevice for conveying objects from one point to another, such as forconveying football practice dummies, may be yieldably suspended from atrack or cable, and may yieldable, movable target, as the carriagecarries the dummy longitudinally on the cables, one end of the cablesmay be selectively altered, as well as yieldably maintained at apreselected plane. A modification ofthe device providing means fortransporting a carriage over an extended area, providing postsintermediate of the vertical adjustable post and the fixed post, havingcable connectors permitting passage of the carriage on the cables overthe post.

5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENIED JAMES :972

3 EQF 3 1 CONVEYOR FOR FOOTBALL TACKLING DUMMIES SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION A conveyor for moving an object from one point to anotherhaving a fixed position and a vertically adjustable position, with avertically yieldable support extending from said adjustable position andnovel means for avoiding friction in such adjustment, and a carriage onsaid cables having means for easy antifriction movement thereon and fortransverse movement of the object carried by said carriage and amodified structure for continuous conveyance of the carriage oversupport poles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view, inperspective, of the device with a football dummy being carried thereby.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevational view of a support pole, taken onthe line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional end view of the antifriction means employed,taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an elevational end view, in cross section, taken on the line4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an elevational cross-sectional side view of the carrier, takenon the line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an elevational cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 ofFIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an elevational cross-sectional view of a modified form ofcarriage and cable support, and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional, elevational view, taken on the line 8-8 ofFIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawings, the numerals1, l designate posts seated in postholes formed in concrete foundations,as 2, in the earth 3. A collar 4 is seated in the foundation and has ahinged line 5 thereon, which may be employed to close the opening whenthe post is removed for use at another location.

The post 1 is tubular, and has the telescoping member 6 mounted therein,which consists of the angle irons 7, 7 mounted on an extension as 8,with the wheels 9, 9 mounted between the angle irons 7, 7 and extendingoutwardly from the extended margins thereof, in contact with the post 1,which is rotatable by means of the crank 11, and a line 12 leads fromthe winch to the bottom of the telescoping member 6, and a coil springas 13 rests on the internal flange 14 at one end, the other end of whichbears against the lower end of the member Multiple cables, as 15, extendfrom the crossarm 16, mounted on the upper end of the extension 8, tothe other post as 1 which may be of integral sections and terminateswith a crossarm 16' and the cables 15 extend through suitable ports inthe crossarm 16 and have a stop formed on the extended ends of thecables 15 against which the washers 61 bear, and coil springs 62, 62abut said washers at one end and the crossarm 16' at the other end,making the cables 15 yieldable, as the extension 8 in the post 1 movesvertically, and a carriage 17 reciprocates on the cables between theposts 1 and 2, the cables 15, 15 extending through the carriage 17 andthe carriage being mounted on the cables 15, 15 by means of the mountsformed by securing one set of angle irons, as 18, 18 to the carriage asby welding one margin of the uppermost set thereof to the carriageframework and securing another set of angle irons 19, 19 to the fixedset as by means of suitable bolts (not shown) said bolts extendingthrough the abutting walls of the angle iron sets 18, I9 and spacedapart to permit free rotation of the rollers 20, 20 mounted between saidwalls, said rollers having a concave bearing surface in contact with thecables 15, 15.

Integral with the carriage 17 is the transverse carriage housing 21which is tubular and has the downwardly extended skirts 22, 22 extendingfrom the margins of the longitudinal slot 23. Antifriction rollers 24,24 are transversely mounted in the skirts 22, 22 and are of sufiicientdiameter to bear against and steady the hanger 25 as it reciprocates inthe housing 21. A rod, or track, 26, extends axially and longitudinallyin the housing 21. Yieldable members, such as the springs 27, 27 aremounted in the housing 21 adjacent the respective ends thereof, andagainst which the hanger 25 bears as it moves longitudinally in thehousing 21.

The hanger 25 has the angle iron tracking means 28 having the rollers 29thereof riding on the bar 26. Caps 30, 30 close the housing 21, andpermit selective changing of the springs 27 to alter the resistanceagainst the hanger 25, as desired.

Pivotally suspended from the hanger 25 is a tackle dummy support 31which has a transverse tubular spring housing 32 and which has thedownwardly extending integral tubular section 33 which when the dummy isbeing used for a blocking dummy, telescopes into the reinforcing member34, which is of less outside diameter, and therefor may be selectivelymounted in the hard rubber connecting section 35. Bolt holes, as 36, 36,in the section 33, receive the bolts 37, 37 when the tackle dummy is tobe used as a blocking dummy, in which case the member 34, which is arigid metal tube, is lowered into the section 35, after the bolts 37 areremoved from the section 35, and when the bolt holes 31 are in alignmentwith the bolt holes in the section 35, the bolts are again insertedtherein, deactivating the spring 37. The spring 37 is anchored at oneend to the rotatable rod 38 in the housing 31 and at its other end tothe housing 31, a line 39 is secured at one end to the rod 38, and atits other end to the bolts 37, such as by means of an eyelet 40. Whenbeing used as a tackle dummy, the reenforcing member 34 is removed andthe bolts 37 are mounted in the section 35 and the line 39 secured tosaid bolts, and when the user hits the dummy, the dummy is forced down,the spring 37 is wrapped around the rod 38 and placed under tension, andwhen the user releases the dummy, the spring will rotate the rod 38 andreturn the section 35 to the section 33, the outwardly flared ends ofthe section 35 guiding the end of the section 33 into the section 35.Washers 63, 63 may be mounted on the rod 38, enclosing the line 39, toprevent fouling with the spring 37.

In operation, when used for football practice, the tackling dummy issuspended from the hanger 25, and the extension 8 is elevated to causethe carriage 17 to move by gravity towards the opposite post. As thecarriage moves on the cables ,15, the dummy will move transversely, andwhen reaching the end of one transverse movement, will strike the springat the end of the carriage housing and be urged in the oppositedirection. As a player tackles the dummy, the force of the blow and theweight of the player, will be exerted against the spring 37, the

section 35 traveling downwardly, and the spring 37 returning the sectionto its original position. As a load is applied to the dummy, the forcewill be applied to the cables 15 and post part 8, and the extension 8will bear against the springs 13, absorbing the shock, and the spring 13will return the extension 8 to its predetermined position and the hangerwill continue its transverse movement. At the end of the trip of thecarriage 17, the crank 11 may be manipulated to lower the extension 8and cause the carriage to travel back to the post 2, by gravity, and thepractice may continue. If desired, multiple carriages may be mounted onthe cables. Many other objects may be suspended from the section 33 inplace of the tackling dummy, such as targets, or other objects to betransported from one place to the other.

In the modified form, shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, provision is made formaking the movement of the carriage continuous, such as around abuilding, or other given area, and in this form, the carriage 41 rideson the cables 42 and the angle mounted in said members 48 and bearagainst the cable connectors 50, which consist of the cable endreceiving member 51, which is tubular and has the internal teeth 52, andan internal flange in the cable receiving member provides a stop for theswivel sleeve 54, pivotally mounted to the shaft 55, said shaftextending through the bore in the upper portion of the member 50. Theextended end of the shaft 55 is externally threaded and mounted on thethreaded end thereof is the adjusting member 56, which is internallythreaded and has a portion of its external surface squared as at 57 toreceive a wrench for rotation, and the extended end of said member hasthe cable clamp 58 which will receive the end of the next sec tion ofcable. The shafts 48 adjust the connector 50 transversely in the channelmembers 48. Friction wheels as 63 mounted in the downwardly extendingwalls of the irons 44, 44 bear against the outside walls of theconnector 50, stabilizing the movement of the carriage over the posts46.

Where it is desired to move the carriage over great areas or around abuilding, the carriage passes over the posts 46, riding on top of thecables 42. One end of the cable section is anchored to the adjustingpost, and the other end compressed and inserted into the receivingmember 51; the adjusting member 56 is then rotated until the cable 42 istight, then the members 51 and 56 are anchored to the members 48 bywelding, filling in the area between the respective members 51, 56 andthe member 48, as shown at 59, 59. The end of the next section of cable42 is then clamped to the swivel 58 and the operation repeated until theconstruction is completed.

As the carriage 41 moves over the cables 42, it will be free to travelcontinuously over the great areas or around a building, the wheels 45riding on the cables 42 and the connectors 50 when passing over thesupporting, intermediate posts 46, with the friction wheels 63 hearingagainst the sidewalls of the connector 50.

The carriage, when so used, may be of sufficient strength to transportpeople, or workmen and their equipment, and such a carriage may be movedby gravity, by placing the vertically adjustable post in alternaterelation with the fixed post, or the carriage may be equipped withself-powering equipment, one or more of the wheels being rotated.

What I claim is:

l. A conveyor having a cable supported carriage, cables yieldablymounted to a fixed post at one end and secured to a verticallyadjustable post at the other end, cable mounting means in said carriagehaving wheels rotatably mounted therein and bearing against said cable,and having a transverse tubular housing mounted thereon, a rodlongitudinally mounted in said transverse housing, and a carrier mountedon said rod, coil springs mounted in said transverse housing adjacenteach end thereof forming a yieldable stop for said carrier, and anobject to be carried pivotally suspended from said carrier.

2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein there is suspended from saidcarrier a shock absorbing means, from which said means the object to becarried is suspended, said shock absorbing means consisting of a pair oftubular sections, one section being pivoted to said carrier and having atransverse tubular spring housing, a rotatable rod longitudinallymounted in said spring housing, and a coil spring anchored at one end tosaid housing and at the other end to said rod, the other section havingbolts mounted transversely therein adjacent one end and a line havingone end mounted on said rod and the other end anchored to the object tobe carried, said line rotating said rod when a shock is applied to saidobject being carried, applying tension to said spring and said springrotating said rod in the opposite direction when said shock is relieved,returning said object being carried to its original position.

3. The device defined in claim 2 having a rigid reenforcing memberinsertable into the object to be carried and anchored to the firstmentioned section.

4. The device defined in claim 3 having antifriction members mounted onsaid cable connectors upon which the carriaEe bears as it passesoversaid cable connectors.

. A conveyor having a cable supported carriage, cables yieldably mountedto a fixed post at one end and secured to a vertically adjustable postat the other end, cable mounting means in said carriage having wheelsrotatably mounted therein and bearing against said cable, intermediateposts between the adjustable and fixed cable ends, a cross member onsaid posts having upstanding cable connectors, said connectors having acable end receiving chamber and a rotatable shaft having one end mountedin said chamber and the other end extending through said upstandingcable connector, said last-mentioned end being externally threaded, anadjusting member internally threaded and mounted on said threaded end ofsaid shaft, and a cable end receiving member formed in the extended endof said adjusting member.

1. A conveyor having a cable supported carriage, cables yieldablymounted to a fixed post at one end and secured to a verticallyadjustable post at the other end, cable mounting means in said carriagehaving wheels rotatably mounted therein and bearing against said cable,and having a transverse tubular housing mounted thereon, a rodlongitudinally mounted in said transverse housing, and a carrier mountedon sAid rod, coil springs mounted in said transverse housing adjacenteach end thereof forming a yieldable stop for said carrier, and anobject to be carried pivotally suspended from said carrier.
 2. Thedevice defined in claim 1 wherein there is suspended from said carrier ashock absorbing means, from which said means the object to be carried issuspended, said shock absorbing means consisting of a pair of tubularsections, one section being pivoted to said carrier and having atransverse tubular spring housing, a rotatable rod longitudinallymounted in said spring housing, and a coil spring anchored at one end tosaid housing and at the other end to said rod, the other section havingbolts mounted transversely therein adjacent one end and a line havingone end mounted on said rod and the other end anchored to the object tobe carried, said line rotating said rod when a shock is applied to saidobject being carried, applying tension to said spring and said springrotating said rod in the opposite direction when said shock is relieved,returning said object being carried to its original position.
 3. Thedevice defined in claim 2 having a rigid reenforcing member insertableinto the object to be carried and anchored to the first mentionedsection.
 4. The device defined in claim 3 having antifriction membersmounted on said cable connectors upon which the carriage bears as itpasses over said cable connectors.
 5. A conveyor having a cablesupported carriage, cables yieldably mounted to a fixed post at one endand secured to a vertically adjustable post at the other end, cablemounting means in said carriage having wheels rotatably mounted thereinand bearing against said cable, intermediate posts between theadjustable and fixed cable ends, a cross member on said posts havingupstanding cable connectors, said connectors having a cable endreceiving chamber and a rotatable shaft having one end mounted in saidchamber and the other end extending through said upstanding cableconnector, said last-mentioned end being externally threaded, anadjusting member internally threaded and mounted on said threaded end ofsaid shaft, and a cable end receiving member formed in the extended endof said adjusting member.